Pocket indicator



Dec. 2,- 1958 Filed Sept. 14, 1955 T. J. GALLAGHER POCKET INDICATOR '2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR.

THOMAS J. GALLAGHER goexw ATTOR N EY 2, 1958 1-. J. GALLAGHER POCKET INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1955 f; a QL i 1 mTOm 2-0m 0-0m Tow N Om m Om YOU m Ow w om vow ATTORNEY for indicating the filled.

United States Patent POCKET INDICATOR Thomas J. Gallagher, Wappingers Falls, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 14, 1955, Serial No. 534,335

7 Claims (Cl. 209-110) This invention relates to a card sorting machine and more particularly to a sorter having an overflow pocket to which the feeding of cards is switched when an associated pocket becomes filled to capacity.

Card sorters generally have several pockets into which cards are sorted in accordance with code markings on the cards. In one well-known type of sorter, thirteen pockets are provided, a pocket corresponding to each of twelve index positions of the card, and a reject pocket to receive cards which are not punched in any of the twelve index positions. If a given group of cards contains equal numbers of cards, for each of the thirteen pockets, the machine will run a maximum length of time before any pocket becomes filled, at which time the machine is automatically shut off. However, the ideal distribution of cards does not occur in actual operation and, therefore, the machine is shut 011 more frequently resulting in lost machine time.

It may be determined that, in a given location, for example, district 9 of the Federal banking districts, and in certain sorting operations, the number 9 pocket becomes filled much more often than the other pockets. A similar situation may occur with pocket 7 in district 7, pocket in district 5, etc. In order to increase the productive time of the machine, an overflow pocket may be associated with the most active pocket. When the normal 9 pocket, for example, is filled to capacity, electrical contacts may be operated to actuate a selecting mechanism to direct the "9 pocket cards to the associated overflow pocket. It will be understood that overflow pockets may be provided for any or all normal pockets,

but for simplicity of illustration, only the 9 pocket herein is provided with an overflow pocket.

In sorting operations, although the cards for the various pockets are intermingled, it is desired that the cards sorted into any given pocket remain in their original order relative to one another. In using the overflow pocket, the length of time that the machine will run without being shut oif, due to full pockets, is greater but, when both the normal pocket and the overflow pocket are filled to capacity, the machine is automatically shut off. Either of the associated pockets may act as the overflow receiver for the other and it therefore becomesnecessary to provide means for indicating which of the two pockets was filled first in order that the cards, when removed from the pockets, may be placed in their original order.

" In accordance with the'above described operation, it

is the principal object of this invention to provide means order inwhich associated pockets are Other objectsiof the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims. and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle-of the invention and the best mode,

Fig. l is a'schematic representation of a conventional sorter.

2,862,618 Fatented Dec. 2, 1958 ice Fig. 3 illustrates individually pin actuated chute blades. I

Fig. 4 is a mechanism for actuating chute blade selecting pins.

Fig. 5 is a circuit schematic.

The subject may be utilized with a variety of card handling machines. However, for simplicity of illustration, it is shown as adapted to a machine of the type shown in Patent 1,741,985, the machine difiering therefrom only as specifically pointed out hereinafter.

The machine is schematicallyrepresented in Fig. 1, having a card hopper 30, a card feed knife 32, a sensing station 34, a plurality of card pockets reject, 12, 11, 0-8, 9-1 and 9-2, and feed rolls 36 forfeeding cards past the pockets. Reference may be made to the above patent for the general structure and operation of the machine.

Fig. 2 illustrates electrical contacts C9 positioned to be actuated by a spring biased card platform 40, which is shown and described in detail in the Patent 1,741,985 when the platform is depressed by a stack of cards equal to the capacity of the pocket.

In themachine described in that patent, the chute blades are positioned near the centers of the pocket openings and are actuated by a single magnet in the manner described therein. Chute blades 42, the ends of which are shown in Fig. 3, are similar to the chute blade described in the Patent 1,741,985, but the location and the method of actuation are different.

Referring to Fig. 3, portions of thirteen blades 42 are shown in a perspective view. The blades are shown separated by a small space merely for the purpose of illustration, the blades actually being stacked in contact with each. The blades are designated 42-12, 42-11, 42-0, 42-1 through 42-8, 42-9-1 and 42-9-2, corresponding to the sorter pockets. Each chute blade except .42-12 has an offset portion 44 and corresponding actuating pins designated 46-12, 46-11, 46-0, 46-1 through 46-8, 46-9-2 and 46-9-1 are positioned above the blades in alignment with the respective offset portions 44 and, in the case of the blade 42-12, in alignment with a nonoffset portion 48. When the pin 46-9-1 is actuated, it bears on the ofiset 44-9-1, thereby depressing the ends of all the chute blades below a card line which is indicatedat 50 in Fig. 4. The card which caused the actuation of the pin 46-9-1 is fed over the top of the blade 42-9-1 to the pocket 9-1. If the pin 42-9-2 is actuated, it bears on the offset 44-9-2 and depresses the chute blades 42-12, 42-11 and 42-0 through 42-9-2 below the card line 50, causing the card to feed over the top of the chute blade 42-9-2 and into the pocket 9-2. Similarly, the contact of any one of the pins 46 with the associated chute blade causes that chute blade and all chute blades thereunder to be depressed below the card line 50, thereby feeding each card to the proper pocket in accordance with data sensed. A dotted outline of part of a card is shown at 52 in Fig. 3, indicating how one side of a card engages the proper chute blade 42 for guiding into the proper pocket.

Referring to Fig. 4, mechanism for selecting and ac- Thirteen similar mechanisms are arranged side by side and are identical; therefore, the illustration and description of one such mechanism will sufiice for all.

The thirteen pins 46 are supported in a vertically slidable manner in a comb member 54. Each pin has a slot 525 having an upper edge 58 and a lower edge 60 for cooperation with a stop member 62 fixed to the comb member 54 to limit, respectively, the downward and upward movements of the pins 46. Each pin carries a bail interposer 64 pivoted at 66, guided by a comb member 68 and biased in a counterclockwise direction lected card column are sensed. hole is sensed, a circuit is completed from the brush 132,

3 by a spring 70. Each interposer .64 has a pull rod 72 pivotally connected at 74, and guided in a comb member 75 the opposite end of the pull rod being pivotally connected to an arm 76 of an armature 78 of an electromagnet 81 Thirteen electromagnets 8t and armatures 78 are provided, corresponding to the thirteen interposers 64 and pull rods 72. 1

Two arms 82 (one shown) are pivotally mounted by a shaft 34 in the frame piece 86 and carry an operating bail 88. When an electromagnet Sois energized by the sensing of a corresponding hole in a card a t. e sensing station 34, the associated armature 78 is attracted and rotates about its pivot point 90. The arm 76 of the armature 78 draws the connected pull rod 72 to the right, moving a notch 92 of the associated interposer ti4into engagement with the bail 88. The bail is rocked in a clockwise direction, by means described hereinafter, bearing on the lower surface of the notch 92 and driving the associated pin 46 into engagement with the associated chute blade 42.

A latch member 94 corresponding to each interposer 64, is mounted on a shaft 96 supported by the framework. Each latch 94 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 98 against a stop member 1%. A surface 192 of the latch engages a shoulder 104 of a depressed interposer 64 to maintain the interposer in engagement with the bail 88 until the bail and interposer are restored. When an interposer is restored to' its raised position, the spring 76 withdraws the interposer from engagement with the bail. Before completing its cycle, the bail rises above the normal position shown in Fig. 4 and strikes a knock-off surface 106 of the interposer, in the event that the interposer was not restored by its spring 79.

A cam 11% which may be driven from the power shaft of the machine cooperates with a cam follower arm 111i and roller 112 to rotate the bail shaft 84 to oscillate the bail first to operate a selected pin .6 and then, under tension of a spring 113, to restore the pin and knock off the interposer 64. The cam 108 rotates once for each card cycle.

Referring to Fig. 5, a wiring schematic is shown including means for switching automatically from one pocket to the associated overflow pocket or vice versa, as well as the indicating lights and circuits.

Power is supplied from any suitable power source to a positive potential line 118, anda zero potential line 121). The sensing circuit is from the line 118 through a line 122, a common brush 124-, a contact roll 126, a

hole in a selected column of a card 52, a sensing brush 128, a line 139, to a rotating brush 132 of a commutator 134. The brush 132 rotates synchronously with the passage of a card 52 under the sensing brush 128 and contacts segments 136-12, 135-11 and 136-0 through 136-9 while corresponding index positions of the se- If, for example, a 9

through the segment 134-9 and a line 138-9, through the normal contacts R2ii-2, unless pocket 9-1 is full, and through the electromagnet 819-9-1 to the line 120. The electromagnet 80-9-1 operates the interposer 64-9-1, as described hereinbefore and the card having the 9 hole is sorted into pocket 9-1. Similarly, circuits are completed through other electromagnets in accordance with data sensed in the cards.

When the pocket 9-1 becomes filled to capacity, .contacts C9-1 are closed, as described hereinbefore, and

a relay R9-1 is energized. The relay contacts R9-1a close. The contacts R -lb transfer energizing a latch pick relay RZMLP) with a circuit from the line 118,

through the transferred contacts R9-1b, the contacts R9-2a and the relay RZMLP) to the line 120. The relay 'R20(LP) has contacts R-1, R20-2 and R2ti-3. The contacts R20-1 transfer and a circuit is completed d fro-m the line 118 through the transferred contacts R20-1, R9-1c and a light L9-1 'to the line 120.

The sorting operation continues with 9" pocket cards being fed to the pocket 9-2 by a circuit from the line 118, brushes 124, 128, and 132, the line 138-9, contacts RA-2 (transferred) and the magnet -9-2, until pocket 9-2 is filled. \Vhen pocket 9-2 is filled, the contacts C9-2 are closed completing a circuit from the line 118, through the contacts C9-2 and a relay R9-2 to the line The contacts R9-2a open; the contacts R9-2b and close. A circuit is completed from the line 118, through the contacts C9-2, R9-1a and a stop relay R21 to the line 1211. The contacts R21-1 open the circuit to the machine drive motor M thereby stopping the machine.

The light L9-1 is on indicating that pocket 9-1 was filled before pocket 9-2. Therefore ,the cards are removed from pocket 9-1 opening the contacts C9-1 and de-energizing the relay R9-1. When R9-1 is de-energized, the contacts R9-1a open, de-energizing the stop relay R21 after which the machine may be started by a switch (not shown). The contacts R9-1b return to normal breaking the circuit through the contacts R9-1b (transferred to the relay RZMLP). This circuit previously was opened at R9-2a when R9-2 was energized. However, R2ii(LP) is a latch relay and its contacts remain actuated. Another circuit is completed from the 1 line 113, through the contacts R9-1b (normal), R9-2b (now closed), 11211-3 latched, and a trip relay R20(LT). When the relay R2ti(LT) is energized it unlatches the relay RZMLP), returning the contacts 'R2ii-1, 1120-2 and Rid-3 to normal. The circuit to the light L9-1 is open at RZii-i and at R9-1c. A circuit is now completed from the line 113 through 1120-1 (normal), R9-2c (now closed) and light L9-2 to the line 120, indicatinggif the pocket 9-1 is filled before pocket 9-2 is emptied, that pocket 59-2 should be emptied first.

it may be desirable to empty pocket 9-1 (or 3-2) before pocket 9-2 (or 9-1) is filled and the machine stops. This is a more desirable procedure to follow to prevent stopping of the machine and loss of operating time.

Assume, as before, that pocket 9-1 was filled first and cards are being stacked in pocket 9-2. When the cards are removed from pocket 9-1, the contacts 9-1 open, dc-energizing the relay R9-1. The contacts R9-1a' open and it is apparent that, when the pocket )-2 is filled, the stop magnet R21 will not be energized and the machine will not stop. The contacts D-1b return to normal to de-energize the relay R20 (LP) (whose contacts remain in a latched position). The contacts R9-1c open, extinguishing the light L9-1.

When pocket 9-2 is filled, the relays R9-2 and R20(LT) are energized as before. The contacts RZiB-l, R2ti-2 and 'R2ii-3 are unlatched and a circuit is com- .pleted through the contacts R2ii-1 and R9-2c to the light Lit-2.

The operation is similar where pocket. 9-2 is full, pocket 9-1 is being filled and the cards are then removed from pocket 9-2. Similar stop magnet energizing contacts may be operated, for example, through a bail common to all other pockets of the machine, to stop the machine when any one of the other pockets become filled. This latter stop mechanism does not constitute a part of the invention and therefore is not shown or described in detail.

While there have been shown and described-and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without de parting from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A card handling machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of regular record card receiving pockets and at least one overflow record card receiving pocket, means operable for sensing classification indicia in a record card, means for feeding a record card past said sensing means and thereafter past said pockets, each of said regular record card receiving pockets corresponding to one of said classifications, means associated with each said pocket, both regular and overflow, and operable by said sensing means for directing said record card to a selected said pocket, in accordance with the classification indicia sensed in said card, circuit means interconnecting said associated means of two associated pockets, said associated pockets being one of said regular record card receiving pockets and said overflow record card receiving pocket, a contact means associated with each of said associated pockets operable when a said associated pocket is filled to capacity for actuating said interconnecting circuit means whereby a record card selected for said filled pocket is directed to the other said associated pocket, indicating means associated with each of said associated pockets for indicating when a said associated .pocket is filled to capacity, and circuit means operable for actuating only said indicating means associated with the first filled of said associated pockets.

2. The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicating means comprise signal lights and said circuit means operable for actuating only said indicating means associated with the first filled of said pockets comprises contacts operable when respectively associated pockets are filled to capacity.

3. The invention claimed in claim 2 wherein said contacts are operable, when a first one of said associated pockets is filled, to open the light circuit of the second said associated pocket whereby only the light of the first filled pocket is lighted.

4. The invention claimed in claim 3 including means operable, when said first filled associated pocket is emptied, for completing a circuit to said light associated with second filled said associated pocket.

5. A card handling machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of regular record card receiving pockets and at least one overflow record card receiving pocket, means operable for sensing classification data in a record card, means operable for feeding a record card past said sensing means and thereafter past said pockets, each of said regular record card receiving pockets corresponding to one of said classifications, magnet circuit means associated with each said pocket, both regular and overflow, and operable selectively in accordance with said classification data sensed on said record card by said sensing means for directing said record card into one of said pockets corresponding to said sensed data, first relay means operable for selectively connecting said magnet circuit means of a pair of associated pockets, said pair comprising one of said regular pockets and said overflow pocket, with said sensing means for operation in response to sensing of a particular said classification data, second relay means operable in response to the filling of the regular one of said pair of associated pockets, third relay means operable in response to the filling of said overflow pocket, a regular pocket indicating light and an overflow pocket indicating light associated with respective regular and overflow pockets of said pair of pockets, circuit means operable by said first relay means for lighting said lights selectively to indicate the filled condition of said pockets, said first relay means being operable when said second relay means are operated and said third relay means are unoperated to operate said magnet circuit means for said overflow pocket and said indicating light for said regular pocket.

'6. The device of claim 5 having fourth relay means operable when said first and said third relay means are operated and said second relay means are unoperated for disabling said first relay means whereby said magnet circuit means associated with the regular one of said pair of pockets are operated in response to the sensing of said particular classification data by said sensing means, and whereby said overflow pocket indicating light is lighted.

7. The device of claim 6 havin fifth relay means operable when said second relay means and said third relay means are operated for disabling said means operable for feeding a record card.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

